Assembly and method for collecting and storing waste tobacco products

ABSTRACT

A novel ashtray and method of use that easily collects waste product from smoking e.g. cigarette ashes and butts, and hides them from view is herein disclosed and described.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The current invention relates to a novel assembly and method for collecting waste tobacco products. More particularly, the subject invention is a novel ashtray and method of use that easily collects waste product from smoking e.g. cigarette ashes and butts, and hides them from view.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The current political environment in the United States is one that generally discourages smoking in public. Sill, there are many establishments that allow for smoking in designated areas. For these establishments, there arises a unique problem. The sight of a full ashtray is not particularly appealing, even for smokers. It requires extra time and effort for those people responsible for the cleaning and arranging of public areas. The common open ashtray does nothing to address the issue. There are many ashtrays that hide the waste product e.g. ashes and cigarette butts. These are either commercial size elongated chambers as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,227,400 and 6,186,355 or motorized collectors as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,061 each incorporated herein by reference. There exists a need for an ashtray assembly which is portable enough to use on a personal scale, such as in a bar or restaurant, that will be easy to use, and allow the user and proprietor the opportunity to use the assembly, remove the waste product from view, and not cause an additional workload on the persons who must take responsibility for the general cleaning duties of the area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of the invention to provide an ashtray assembly, which hides the waste product from view.

[0004] It is another object of the invention to provide and ashtray assembly which hides the waste product and provides sufficient storage of waste product so as not to cause additional labor in emptying the assembly.

[0005] It is another object of the invention to provide an ashtray assembly, which is easy to use.

[0006] It is yet another object of the invention to provide a method for using the ashtray assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 Shows the assembly with both members together

[0008]FIG. 2 Shows the upper member removed from the lower receptacle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0009] The subject invention provides for an ashtray assembly and method for receiving collecting waste products from smokers. The user will be able to use the product in a manner similar to a conventional ashtray. In one embodiment, it is a two-part assembly in which there are two detachable members, which are held together by gravitational means. The upper member is the initial receiver of the waste product. It is formed with a receiving region and a central conduit. There is a solid vertical member which extends from the bottom inner surface of the lower receptacle, and extends through the region formed by said conduit. Said conduit circumscribes the vertical member so as to allow minimal distance between the solid vertical member and the upper member. Minimal distance is defined as a distance sufficiently proximate to each other such that one is not able to easily see the waste product accumulated in the lower receptacle. In providing an assembly in this configuration, the assembly is providing two functions. First, it hides previously accumulated waste product from view. Second, when not in use, it greatly reduces residual odor produced from having waste product openly exposed to the immediate ambient atmosphere.

[0010]FIG. 1 shows the entire assembly 10, where the upper member 12 is placed upon the lower receptacle 14. The upper member is sufficiently curved so as to create a receiving region 18 where the user can deposit the waste product. When the member 12 is placed upon the lower receptacle 14, the conduit 20 circumvents the solid vertical member 16 which extends upward from the bottom interior surface of lower receptacle 14 past the lower interior surface of the upper member 12 which is receiving region 18.

[0011]FIG. 2 shows the entire assembly 10, where the upper member 12 is removed from lower receptacle 14. The lower receptacle 14 has a central cavity 22, and a solid vertical member 16.

[0012] The method in which the assembly is to be used is quite simple. The user deposits waste product in the receiving region in a manner similarly used in a conventional ashtray. At the time it is desired to empty the receiving region, the user removes the upper member, and the waste product falls by gravitational means through the centrally placed conduit, and into the lower receptacle. The solid vertical member disperses the waste material in the cavity of the lower receptacle. The lower receptacle can be a cylindrical solid, rectangular solid, cubical solid, or any other shape, which provides a cavity in which the waste material may be collected and stored. In storing the waste product in a solid, as opposed to the substantially planer configurations of most conventional ashtrays, the user is provided with a substantially greater volume in which to store the waste products. Furthermore, the increased storage capacity reduces the frequency of emptying a filled ashtray.

[0013] The user will then replace the upper member onto the lower receptacle, thus hiding from view the waste product. There is no need to provide any attaching means for the assembly to be used. Additionally, when the assembly is in need of emptying, the person who is emptying removes the upper member, and discards the waste product from the lower receptacle, then replaces the upper member and renders the assembly ready for use by the next person.

[0014] The assembly can be formed of any suitable non-flammable material. These can include, but are not limited to, glass, ceramic, metal, or non-flammable plastics.

[0015] Generally, the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is to be understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. An ashtray assembly comprising: (a) an upper member (b) a lower receptacle
 2. The ashtray assembly of claim 1 where said upper member is removable.
 3. The ashtray assembly of claim 1 where said upper member is attached to said lower receptacle by gravitational means.
 4. The ashtray assembly of claim 1 where said upper member has a central conduit.
 5. The ashtray assembly of claim 1 where said lower receptacle is formed with an inner cavity.
 6. The ashtray assembly of claim 1 where said lower receptacle is a cylindrical, rectangular or cubical solid.
 7. The ashtray assembly of claim 1 where said lower receptacle has attached to it a vertical solid projection.
 8. The ashtray assembly of claim 1 where said vertical solid projection extends upwards past the lower surface of the upper member.
 9. The ashtray assembly of claim 4 where said central conduit circumscribes but does not contact, said vertical solid projection.
 10. The ashtray assembly of claim 4 where said conduit is formed so as to be in close proximity to said vertical solid projection such that said solid vertical member will hide from view the contents of said lower receptacle.
 11. A method for using the ashtray assembly encompassing the steps of: (a) accumulating waste product in the upper member; (b) lifting the upper member to allow waste to exit through a central conduit; (c) accumulating waste product in the lower receptacle; (d) hiding from view the waste product by replacing the upper member into position on top of the lower receptacle. 